It's an AM. Apart from being full custom geometry the XFusion fork is quite long. At 170mm full extension it's 565mm axle to crown so at 150mm its 545mm which is the referring measurement I built the frame around.

I keep thinking I need to order a different front shock mount to try - move it forward few mm. Should lower BB down to +10, slacken half a degree, and run in 158mm mode.. Should pretty much match your geometry (but with a 170mm Lyrik DH set with ZS Orbit E)

I keep thinking I need to order a different front shock mount to try - move it forward few mm. Should lower BB down to +10, slacken half a degree, and run in 158mm mode.. Should pretty much match your geometry (but with a 170mm Lyrik DH set with ZS Orbit E)

Mine's a recent AM too, I'd like to drop the BB a bit from the standard 17.5mm rise, just like you. I've already got the head at 65 (angleset @ -1.5) with a 170 fork (IdylleSC).
You might need an offset shock bushing (-1.5mm perhaps) as well as the "adjusted" (13?) shock mount as there are only 2 relevant plate options:
Nicolai write:
"There are two offset shock mounts that might be interesting for you.
The -3mm mounts cause about -0,5° head angle and 6mm bb drop. With these you can probably still run 171mm travel.
The other option would be the -7mm mounts. These would bring down your bb about 13mm and slacken your HA 1,1°. I think that would be too extreme and you would definitly not be able to use max travel."
hope it helps
neil

belting build, I like the green too.
I'd imagine 0.5 degrees off the head makes a little difference, but would you say the 7.5mm lower BB over a standard AM makes a significant difference in feel / stability? Sense says it would, but do you really feel it?
Do you get a lot of pedal strikes?
It's pretty what I am aiming for with my AM (170 Idylle SC fork, -1.5 angleset) with adjusted (-3) shock plates and maybe a 1.5 mm offset front shock bush..

belting build, I like the green too.
I'd imagine 0.5 degrees off the head makes a little difference, but would you say the 7.5mm lower BB over a standard AM makes a significant difference in feel / stability? Sense says it would, but do you really feel it?
Do you get a lot of pedal strikes?
It's pretty what I am aiming for with my AM (170 Idylle SC fork, -1.5 angleset) with adjusted (-3) shock plates and maybe a 1.5 mm offset front shock bush..

I definitely like the lower BB and yes I believe I can feel the effect ot it. It's all the sum of its parts really, but the most noticeable difference is the sizing. It just feels the right size. On the few rides I've done with Strava I've seen a marked increase in speed over most of my local segments.

I definitely like the lower BB and yes I believe I can feel the effect ot it. It's all the sum of its parts really, but the most noticeable difference is the sizing. It just feels the right size. On the few rides I've done with Strava I've seen a marked increase in speed over most of my local segments.

Thanks for that, looks like I am going the right way then. I hoped so as Nic seem to have dropped the BB to +10 on the ION 16. Enjoy it, I bet you thought long and hard about that geo and spec, looks great too.

Porter's point that the popularity of 29ers for big guys is due to those being the only bikes big enough to fit them gets you thinking. As Jones bike is a 29 though his BB is a fair bit further forward, maybe that's what he's liking.

Was kind of disappointed by the quality of the Reset Headset. The bearrings give up fairly quick and everytime you remove the fork the bearing sticks to the crown race which is appereantly normal for Reset. Changed it for a Works to slacken the headangle a little bit more. It is now at about 66 degrees measured with a phone app.
Also Solo AIR fork is performing much better than the dual air which I never used anyway. At the same time I changed the IS damping unit by a mission control cartridge and lifted travel to 170 mm.

Guys
I have a lovely AM I got from Dipper, thanks fir that mate. I am planning to test a 650b front wheel in my Deville 160/26 fork. Loamranger told me the 650 HD 2.35 / Flow rim will fit with 6mm to spare.
To balance it up a but I've ben thinking Conti 2.4 RQ/TK on the back. But is it really tight n the AM? I've used a Spesh Clutch 2.3 fine but maybe the RQ 2.4 is even bigger?
I saw that Nicolai were using the RQ on the 650 in the ION 650 v 25 video. Strangely the Mountain King on the 26 tho. I see that Mountain King 2.4 Race sure is light but is it a good "Summer" (tubeless kit) all rounder for the UK (Brighton)
Where does a chap with not much spare cash get those Contis at a good price? Any tips welcome
Thanks
Neil

Nicolai Helius AM - Setup Database

Originally Posted by mudfish801

Guys
I have a lovely AM I got from Dipper, thanks fir that mate. I am planning to test a 650b front wheel in my Deville 160/26 fork. Loamranger told me the 650 HD 2.35 / Flow rim will fit with 6mm to spare.
To balance it up a but I've ben thinking Conti 2.4 RQ/TK on the back. But is it really tight n the AM? I've used a Spesh Clutch 2.3 fine but maybe the RQ 2.4 is even bigger?
I saw that Nicolai were using the RQ on the 650 in the ION 650 v 25 video. Strangely the Mountain King on the 26 tho. I see that Mountain King 2.4 Race sure is light but is it a good "Summer" (tubeless kit) all rounder for the UK (Brighton)
Where does a chap with not much spare cash get those Contis at a good price? Any tips welcome
Thanks
Neil

RQ 2.4 fits in 26" with room to spare.

If you want to keep front low, for 49mm tube you can use Orbit E headset. I use it with 170 mm fork. If I use 150mm 650b one in front, it will be the same height. Though about doing that, maybe adjusting rear to 163, but it rides great as is.

Thanks for the comment. Good news on the RQ2.4.
Now, is it a better tyre than the Hans Dampf 2.35 Pacestar (understand Trailstar can be too grippy for the rear and was hoping clever Conti black chili might give MORE grip and better or equal rolling/climbing)?
Thx for the headset tip, I have a -1.5 ZS headset in there (Cane Creek, got it with my frame) so I am good on front height I think. The 650 should put the front back up where the designers intended - as we know the design allowed for an external cup's stack height. Of course it will likely feel "slacker/more stable" with the extra trail added by the bigger wheel. ( a 650 wheel in a 26 fork which normally has a touch less offset ). Sounds like you tried it Axe, do you agree it gives a slacker feel?
Thanks, neil

650B (26" Deville fork) testing update

Originally Posted by mudfish801

Thanks for the comment. Good news on the RQ2.4.
Now, is it a better tyre than the Hans Dampf 2.35 Pacestar (understand Trailstar can be too grippy for the rear and was hoping clever Conti black chili might give MORE grip and better or equal rolling/climbing)?
Thx for the headset tip, I have a -1.5 ZS headset in there (Cane Creek, got it with my frame) so I am good on front height I think. The 650 should put the front back up where the designers intended - as we know the design allowed for an external cup's stack height. Of course it will likely feel "slacker/more stable" with the extra trail added by the bigger wheel. ( a 650 wheel in a 26 fork which normally has a touch less offset ). Sounds like you tried it Axe, do you agree it gives a slacker feel?
Thanks, neil

Update time,
Tried the 650B 2.4 RQ /TK Chili in my Deville, it's a snug fit bit it feels just great. Kinda "swoopy" which I guess is that bit of extra trail and slight increase in the BB height I've been used to (it's back to datasheet spec now, pretty much).
Tried the 2.4 RQ / TK Chili on the back, I love it. Good rolling, grip, volume - holds onto on clay mud a bit, but keeps going and that's not it's target surface. 2.4 RQ/TK reminds me of an old favourite, the 26" Bontrager Big Earl Wet 2.35 TLR. TK has better volume tho.
Next will be the Schwalbe Magic Mary 650B x 2.35 Trailstar on the front, still in the 26" fork. Should leave a touch more space at the crown and even work with my Idylle SC when it comes back from Jungle.
happy trails guys